There are no legal protections in place to protect the East Greenwich gasholder on historic grounds – indeed, Historic England has issued a certificate of immunity stating the site cannot be listed for five years, because it is too similar to an earlier structure on the Old Kent Road.

East Greenwich’s gasholder was originally one of two on the site – the second structure was taken down in 1985.

Greenwich Council could still place the remaining structure on its own local list of buildings of historic interest – something Lewisham Council did last year with the gas holders at Bell Green, Sydenham.

However, last year a planning brief for the peninsula said development in the area “should build on the heritage value of the gas holder to enhance the character and distinctiveness of the area”.

It added: “This could be achieved through a variety of means. For example, the retention of all or part of the structure within a public open space or building, or reinterpretation of the structure and its industrial history through the design of building façade details, public realm/landscaping or the layout of the development.”